IAN HYLAND’S TV DIARY

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When Gemma Whelan played an undercover detective in an episode of Inside No.9 back in June, I recall noting that if Jed Mercurio ever decided to write a proper ending for Line Of Duty she’d be brilliant in it.

ITV beat Jed to it though, casting Gemma as DS Collins in this week’s three-parter The Tower. No plot spoilers from me, but I’d definitely watch another series.

Collins should ditch the Hayley Cropper hooded coat, though. It wasn’t bright red but it was Hayleyish enough to have me thinking Roy would turn up with a flask. With all the nicknames flying around the station I’m amazed none of her colleagues called her Hayley Copper.

Back at BBC1’s tidying-up show Sort Your Life Out last night, Stacey Solomon shrieked when she was surprised by a noisy parrot at the home of her latest lazy – sorry, I mean really busy – hoarders.

I was shocked as well. Given how long Stacey has been living with Joe Swash, you’d have thought she’d be well used to squawking attention-seekers by now.

Joe actually turned up at the house later in the show, which added to the general lightheartedness.

I much prefer this programme when it’s in knockabout mode. Last week’s series opener, which featured a divorced mum and her three daughters, was a little too heavy and intrusive for my liking.

The latest kitchen-based storage top tip came from the meticulous Dilly Carter, who revealed she organises her herbs and spices in alphabetical order. What’s that? Where the heck does Dilly find the time? My best guess is between the tarragon and the turmeric.